ADHD is strongly linked to cannabis use and cannabis use disorder. Some suggest that the theory of self-medication may explain the increased risk of cannabis use linked to ADHD.
Although clinical data is lacking, there is a growing perception that cannabis may be useful for treating ADHD. The researchers behind the current review thus sought to investigate evidence from preclinical and clinical research on the subject.
To do so, they analyzed 13 studies, including five clinical studies examining the effects of cannabis on cognition, and two clinical studies examining how cannabis affects ADHD symptoms.
While evidence from preclinical research suggested a role for the endocannabinoid system in regulating neurocognitive functions that are typically dysregulated in ADHD, the researchers noted that a paucity of clinical data makes it difficult to draw meaningful conclusions.
Study author, Jennie Ryan, PhD, a nursing researcher at Thomas Jefferson University, said in a press release that a relationship exists between cannabinoids and ADHD. She noted, however, that the relationship is complicated by factors including the sheer variety of cannabis products used, the different types of endocannabinoids and their biological pathways, and the variability of how ADHD presents in people.
The researchers concluded that there is a significant gap in the literature regarding the relationship between the endocannabinoid system and ADHD symptomology. They noted that the review suggests both potential therapeutic benefits and detrimental drug interactions among individuals with ADHD who use cannabinoids.
“Despite the growing popular opinion that cannabis and cannabinoids may be a therapeutic agent for ADHD symptoms, several critical questions remain unanswered. More rigorous and comprehensive studies are needed to fully understand the safety and efficacy of cannabinoid therapies in individuals with ADHD,” they wrote in their paper.
Sources: EurekAlert, Developmental Psychobiology